Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Robert L Note: I found this list of 100 Habs facts at the Sportsnet site, and cruising through it I found the usual misconceptions and erroneous information when it comes to Montreal Canadiens history spoken about from an Ontario perspective. I go off on a rant about this type of research and journalism, but the simple truth is these facts have been misrepresented for so long now, people don't even bother to check up on them. It won't be today that non Canadiens fans will seek to look into such things more deeply, so it becomes my job to set the record straight. What follows here is the Sportnet list of (what they call) facts as they were published at their site. I've added my comments to about 50 of them, to either clarify, correct or further the statement. My precisions are in brackets, highlighted.

1. Jean Perron coached the Canadiens to their 1986 victory in the Stanley Cup playoffs in his first year behind the bench. (Should read behind an NHL bench, to be precise, which is a feat also accomplished by Al McNeil in 1971, Claude Ruel in 1969, and Toe Blake in 1956. Balke actually won Cups in his first five seasons as coach. Jacques Demers won the Cup with Montreal in his first season behind the Canadiens bench in 1993. Pat Burns, in 1989, made it to the final, losing to Calgary in six.)

2. Joe Malone scored the first goal in Montreal Canadiens history. (Malone scored the Canadiens first NHL goal in 1917. Canadiens history began nine seasons earlier, in 1909 - hence the centennial.)

3. Henri Richard leads the franchise for most years in the playoffs with 18 years from 1955 to 1975. (That should be 19 seasons. The only missed year from 1956 to 1975, was 1970.)

4. Larry Robinson holds the club record for most playoff games played in the Montreal uniform at 203. (Robinson also hold the club record for consecutive seasons in the playoffs with 17. Jean Beliveau (16), Bob Gainey (16) and Henri Richard (15) follow.)

5. Canadiens superstar Maurice Richard was the first head coach of the Quebec Nordiques. He coached the first two games and then resigned. He was replaced by Maurice Filion.

6. Maurice Richard is the Montreal Canadiens all time leading goal scorer in the playoffs with 82 goals.

7. Jean Beliveau’s 176 playoff points are the most all time for a Canadiens player.

8. Maurice Richard has scored three goals in one game on seven occasions in the playoffs. (Includes four goals on two occasions and one five goal game.)

9. In 1916 the Canadiens beat the Portland Rosebuds of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association to win their first Stanley Cup.

10.The Canadiens and four other NHA team executives formed the NHL in 1917. (The other three clubs were the Montreal Wanderers, the Ottawa Senators, and the Toronto Arenas.)

11. In 1919, tragedy struck the Stanley Cup final when the Spanish Flu pandemic hit Seattle, and Canadiens star Joe Hall died. The remainder of the series was cancelled. (The series was tied at two wins apiece, with Game 4 ending in a scoreless tie. The epidemic actually hit the city of Victoria, B.C. first, where the Canadiens had become infected while practicing there. Joe Hall died after the cancellation of the final two games.)

12. The Canadiens had the worst record in the league by the 1935-36 NHL season. Stunned by such a horrible performance, the NHL gave the Habs rights to all French Canadian players for two years. (Barely a shred of truth here! In 1936, the NHL gave the Canadiens the rights to the best Quebec born players not already signed to C-Forms for seven seasons, ending in 1943. Due to the best prospect already having been scooped up, the Canadiens only used the provision 10 out of 14 times. Most barely played for the Canadiens, if they even made the club at all. Most were sent to their Providence Reds farm club. They were: Jean Pusie (1936), Maurice Crogan and Edouard Ambois(1938), Joffre Desilets and Armand Raymond (1939), Gerald Tapin (1940), Marcel Bessette and Aime Renaud (1942), Ronald Forget and Maurice Courteau (1943). Only Desilets, Raymond, and Pusie would play for the Habs.)

13. In 1945, Rocket Richard made NHL history by becoming the first player to score 50 goals in one season, reaching the mark on the final night of the season. The night before in Montreal, he missed scoring his fiftieth on a penalty shot.)

14. In 1957, brothers Tom and Hartland Molson, owners of the Molson brewery, purchased the team.

15. Between 1951 and 1960, the Canadiens made the finals every year, winning six times (Including a record five straight from 1956 to 1960, and in 1953. In 1954, they lost in overtime of the seventh game to Detroit. Doug Harvey reached up to swat down a dump in shot by the Wings Tony Leswick and in ended up in the Canadiens net. The following year, the Rocket Richard - less Habs again went seven again the Wings before losing. With a little better fortune, it could have been eight in a row).

16. In 1959, goalie Jacques Plante became the first goalie to regularly wear a mask. (If you've ever seen "Silence Of The Lambs", you'll know what he looked like.)

17. When Rocket Richard was suspended for the rest of the season in 1955 for striking an official in a game against the Detroit Red Wings. Montrealers rioted in the streets, causing millions of dollars in damage. The Canadiens had to forfeit the game, and went on to lose in the finals to the Red Wings. (The Canadiens were forced to forfeit the game because NHL President Clarence Cambell, against sounder judgement and warning from local police, showed up for the game after suspending Richard, thus causing the riot. The forfeited game cost the Canadiens two points in the standings, which was the margin Detroit needed with three games left to surpass Montreal in the standings. Game seven of the playoff was then played on Detroit ice. Montreal lost the final, 4 games to 3).

18. In 1956 the Canadiens established a farm team in Peterborough, now known as the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League. (The club was then known as the T.P.T.'s, which stood for Toronto - Peterborough Transport, the team's sponsor. It's first coach was Scotty Bowman.)

19. The Canadiens lost to the Maple Leafs in the 1967 Stanley Cup Final, the last time the two hated rivals met each other in the final round and the last time Toronto won the Cup.

20. The Canadiens missed out on a playoff spot in 1970 on the final day of the regular season thanks to a tiebreaker and since Toronto missed out as well, it meant the only time in NHL history no Canadian teams made the playoffs. (The Canadiens were eliminated by a goal differential caused by a thrown game between the Red Wings and Rangers. Knowing the Rangers were four goals behind Montreal in the tiebreaker, Wings coach Sid Abel "rested" his better players, allowing for a 9-5 win by New York. The Rangers fired 65 shots at the Detroit net.)

21. In 1976-77, the Canadiens set a NHL record by losing only eight games in an 80 game schedule. (The team record was 60-8-12. In the 1943-44 season, the Canadiens went 38-5-7 in a 50 game schedule.)

22. In 1995 the Canadiens missed the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. (The season had been shortened to 48 games due to a player's strike.)

23. In December 1995, after Patrick Roy allowed nine goals against the Detroit Red Wings and after head coach Mario Tremblay pulled him well after the game was out of reach, Roy approached then team president Ronald Corey and told him, "I just played my last game in this town.” (He'd play in the town again as a member of the Colorado Avalance. Roy said to Corey, "I've played my last game for the Montreal Canadiens".)

24. On March 11 1996, the Canadiens defeated the Dallas Stars 4-1 in the final game at the historic Montreal Forum. (Andrei Kovalenko, the most disposable element of the Roy trade, scored the final goal in the Forum.)

25. Current owner George N. Gillett Jr. was the Canadiens only interested buyer when the Molson family sold it to him in 2001. (Totally untrue! Several factions were interested, but raising the needed collateral was a problem with financial institutions scared off by the perceived decline in value of the franchise. Former Canadiens star Dickie Moore, was a most interested party caught in this dilema. Former Nordiques owner Marcel Aubut also attempted to form a buyers group. Other prominant Montreal and Quebec businessmen were also at the same stage when Gillett bought the club.)

26. On November 22, 2003, the Canadiens participated in the Heritage Classic in Edmonton, the first outdoor hockey game in the history of the NHL. (It was the first regular season outdoor game. Tampa and Los Angeles had previously played on artificial ice during an exhibition game. Montreal beat the Oilers 4-3.)

27. On September 19, prior to the start of the 2005-06 season, the Canadiens announced that they had adopted Youppi!, the popular former Montréal Expos mascot who was left behind when the Expos moved to Washington. (The press released at the time "joked" that the club had signed him as a free agent.)

28. The championship season in 1992-93 still marks the last time that a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup. (At least 15 years isn't 40!)

29. The Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups (including their first in 1916, before the NHL existed), more than any other team. (In total for both the NHA and NHL, there are 26 league titles for the Canadiens.)

30. The team moved to the Montreal Forum for the 1926-27 season. In 1996, the Habs moved from the Montreal Forum, their home during 71 seasons and 22 Stanley Cups, to the Molson Centre. (In 1926, the club shared home ice with the Montreal Maroons.)

31. The Canadiens were founded by J. Ambrose O'Brien on December 4, 1909 as a charter member of the National Hockey Association. (The actual founding date was December 2, 1909, when O'Brien reached an agreement with Wanderers president Jimmy Gardner. The deal was announced two days later.)

32. According to NHL.com, the first man to refer to the team as "the Habs" was American Tex Rickard, owner of Madison Square Garden, in 1924. Rickard apparently told a reporter that the "H" on the Canadiens' sweaters was for "Habitants." It actually stands for hockey. (Rickard was a Texas born promoter, who had spent time in the province of Quebec. He was familiar with the term "Habitants" in regards to rural farmers. It was his notion that this was where Canadiens players originated from.)

33. Guy LaFleur is the team’s all time points scoring leader. (Lafleur is never spelled with a capital F.)

34. Henri Richard has played the most seasons at 20 and most games at 1256.

35. Maurice Richard leads the club in goals with 544.

36. Guy Lafleur has the most assists in club history with 728.

37. 1980's enforcer Chris Nilan has the most penalty minutes in club history with 2,248. (Nilan bought the penalty box at the Forum closing auction.)

38. Most shutouts: George Hainsworth, 75.

39. Most Stanley Cups: Henri Richard, 11.

40. Most goals in a season: Steve Shutt & Guy Lafleur, 60.

41. Most assists in a season: Pete Mahovlich, 82 (1974-75).

42. Most points in a season: Guy Lafleur, 136 (1976-77).

43. Most shutouts in a season: George Hainsworth, 22 (1928-29)* League record.

44. Jean Beliveau, 1961-71 is the longest serving captain in team history. (Beliveau served ten seasons as captain, Saku Koivu is beginning his ninth season as captain, Emile "Butch" Bouchard and Bob Gainey served eight seasons each.)

45. Saku Koivu, 1999 to present is the first non-Canadian captain in club history. (False. American born Chris Chelios was one of two Canadiens captains named for the 1989-90 season.)

46. Dick Irvin, 1940-55 is the longest-serving head coach in team history. (Toe Blake coached from 1955 to 1968.)

47. In the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Canadiens boast the second most enshrined Hall of Famers with 42. All of their inductees are from Canada with the exception of former defenceman Joe Hall, who was from England. (Misleading at best! The Canadiens have 44 enshined members, not counting coaches and managers. The Bruins are listed as having 46 members, but their total includes long time Canadiens Sprague Cleghorn, Sylvio Mantha, and Guy Lapointe - three player's whose reputation was made wearing the CH. The HHOF lists 54 Canadiens players as being in the Hall, but 10 of those are not counted by the Habs as they have played two seasons or less with the club, and made their names elsewhere, prior to, or preceding their tenures with the Canadiens. Rod Langway was born in the U.S.A.)

48. The Canadiens have retired 13 numbers, by 14 players, in their history, the most of any team in the National Hockey League, and the fourth highest total of any North American professional sports franchise. 11 of the honourees were born in Canada. (All 14 players are Canadian born.)

49. Patrick Roy will have his No. 33 retired in a pregame ceremony on November 22, 2008. (The same night Wendel Clark has his jersey "honoured" in Toronto.)

50. The Bruins and Canadiens have played each other more times than any other two currently existing teams in NHL history. The rivalry is considerably one sided, with the Canadiens winning 24 out of 31 of their head to head playoff series, and all seven of the Final series.

51. In 1956 Jean Beliveau was the first NHL'er to land on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

52. Serge Savard, with eight Stanley Cups, has the record for most by a NHL defenceman. (Next is Habs Jean Guy Talbot with 7 - and he's not in the HHOF!)

53. Larry Robinson owns the team record for best +/- in a season with +120 in 1976-77.

55. The longest undefeated streak in team history is 28 games (23-0-5) from 12/18/1977 to 02/23/1978.

56. The longest losing streak is 12 games set from 02/13/1926 to 03/13/1926.

57. The most team goals scored in a season is 387 set in 1976-77.

58. The most team goals scored in a single game is 16 in a 16-3 win over Quebec in 1920.

59. The most goals allowed in a single game is 11 (six times) most recently on Dec. 12, 1995, Patrick Roy’s last game as a Canadiens. (That keeps being brought up! The Canadiens acquired Roy with the 51st pick in the 1984 draft from trading Robert Picard to Winning. They acquired Picard in a trade with Toronto for goalie Bunny Larocque.)

60. Toe blake won eight Stanley Cups as a coach between 1956 and 1968.

61. Jean Beliveau was the first ever receipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1965, with three game winning goals in 13 playoff games. (Oddly, or perhaps not, the great evalauator of talent Smythe once scoffed at the notion of Beliveau being the best non NHL player in 1952. He regarded Eric Nesterinko as being superior!)

62. Current Canadiens GM Bob Gainey had his name misspelled on the Stanley Cup in 1975-76. It was spelled “Gainy.” (Jacques Plante's name is mispelled three times, three different ways!)

63. In 1916, The Canadiens are identified as the “Canadians” on the Cup.

64. In 1965 when they won their 12th Stanley Cup, Maurice Richard was working as assistant to the president and is listed on the Cup as “ass to press.”

65. After winning the 1924 Cup, the Canadiens headed over to owner Leo Dandurands house for a drink. Georges Vezina and two other players crammed into a Model-T but the car stalled on a Cote st. Antoine Hill. They left the Cup on the curb when they pushed the car up the hill, before driving back later to pick it up in the same spot they left it. (It was a flat tire that needed changing, and it was a totally blasted Sprague Cleghorn who was guilty of leaving the Cup behind.)

66. Six Montreal teams have won the Cup including the Canadiens, AAAs, Victorias and Shamrocks. In all there have been 41 titles for the city. (The other two were the Wanderers and Maroons.)

67. Jean Beliveau’s name appears the most times on the Cup at 17. Ten as a player, and seven as senior VP from 1973-93.

68. The then longest Cup drought in team history ended in 1944 when coach Dick Irvin created the punch line with Richard, Toe Blake and Elmer Lach. They scored 10 of 16 goals in final. (The 13 year dryspell is now the second longest, and the current 15 seasons is the new record.)

69. In 1954 Irvin told the Habs not to shake hands with the Red Wings after losing the Final. There was a white hot rivalry and they lost in Game 7. “If I had shaken hands, I wouldn’t have meant it,” said Irvin.

70. Despite his greatness, Rocket Richard never won a scoring title. The closest he came was finishing one point behind teammate Bernie Geoffrion, 75 points to 74. (Thanks in no small part to his punching a referee with three games to go in 1955 and being suspended. Geoffrion was given death threats and booed when he passed Richard a week later.)

71. In its 72 year history 16 cups were presented at the Montreal Forum.

72. The 1989 Calgary Flames were the only visiting team to win the Cup on Forum ice.

73. During the 1971 Finals and in the midst of a five game benching, Henri Richard called coach Al Macneil “the worst coach that I have ever known.” In Game 7 Richard returned to score twice including the Cup winner. (Richard's role was reduced, but the most he was benched for was one period. He called McNeil, "The worst coach I have ever played for.")

74. The seeds of the NHLPA were planted at the 1956 all star game in Montreal, spearheaded by Ken Lindsay and Doug Harvey. (That would be Ted Lindsay, of the Detroit Red Wings.)

75. Canadiens forward Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion is credited with inventing the slapshot in the 1950s. 76. Maurice Richard has the most hat tricks in team history with 26. (The Boomer only popularized it. The shot is as old as hockey itself. Canadiens star Didier Pitre was known for his slapper in the early years of the NHA. It terrified Ottawa goalie Riley Hern so badly, he retired because of it.)

77. Guy Lapointe’s 28 goals in the 74-75 season are the most in Canadiens history by a defenceman. (Sheldon Souray came close in 2006-07, with 26. Other Habs defensemen with 20 include Mathieu Schneider, Chris Chelios, and Serge Savard.)

78. The first goalie ever selected first overall in the NHL Draft was the Canadiens Michel Plasse in 1968. (The Canadiens were using a new version of a territorial rights rule from 1963 to 1969 to select Plasse. The draft was then known as the Amateur Draft, and it's creation involved the phasing out of players signed to C and B Form contract. Since the Canadiens were the club that had the most players signed under the older contract terms and were set to lose the rights to the most players under the phasing out, Sam Pollock bargained for and gained the rights to use the first two picks in drafts from 1963 to 1969 to select unsigned Quebec born players only. The option was passed over for the first five seasons. After selecting Plasse in 1968, he used the second pick on Roger Belisle. In 1969, Pollock chose Rejean Houle and Marc Tardiff.)

79. Ken Dryden was drafted by the Boston Bruins, 14th overall in the 1964 Amateur Draft. The Canadiens acquired him for three players, none of whom ever played a single game in the NHL. (Dryden was acquired for two players, not three. The deal was the rights traded to Montreal by Boston with Alex Campbell for Guy Allen and Paul Reid on June 28, 1964. The deal was originated by Bruins GM Milt Schmidt, who desperately wanted Reid. Dryden did not learn that he was drafted by the Bruins until 1974 as Boston never phoned to say they had selected him. Days later, he was acquired by Montreal.)

80. When Guy Lafleur first joined the team he was asked to wear Jean Beliveau’s number but refused, saying the pressure would be too much to live up to. (Lafleur was not asked to wear it, he was offered it by Beliveau.)

81. While GM of the Winnipeg Jets in 1979, former Canadien John Ferguson tried to sign former teammate Henri Richard for the Jets playoff run following an old timers game. Richard, who had retired in 1975, declined.

82. Guy Lafleur was the first rookie in the modern era to record three hat tricks in one season.

83. Between 1971 and 1973 the Canadiens went a club record 185 consecutive games without being shutout.

84. Doug Jarvis has the club record for most consecutive games played at 560. (Jarvis also won Cups in his first four season, surpassed only by Henri Richard, who was on the five Cups from 1956 to 1960.)

85. Maurice Richard and Bert Olmstead share the club record for most points in a single game with eight.

86. Jacques Plante owns the club records for most games played (556) and wins (312) by a Canadiens goaltender.

87. In 1986, 20 year old Canadiens goalie Patrick Roy became the youngest player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.

88. The Montreal Canadiens NHL record of 32 consecutive winning seasons ended in 1983-84 when they finished 35-40-5.

89. During the 1988-89 season, Patrick Roy went undefeated at the Forum posting a 25-0-4 mark.

90. The Canadiens team motto is: To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high.

91. In 1945, Rocket Richard made NHL history by becoming the first player to score 50 goals in one season, reaching the mark on the final night of the season. (Second time I read this, I think! I'll replace this double post with this: In the 1919 playoffs - the year the Cup was cancelled due to influenza, Newsy Lalonde scored 17 goals in 11 playoff games, in cluding six against Seattle.)

92. In 2002 Jose Theodore became the first Canadiens goalie to win the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. (That should read the first since Jacques Plante in 1961-62.)

93. Goaltender Carey Price was selected 5th overall by Montreal in the 2005 Entry Draft. The Canadiens gained their draft position via a lottery following the lockout. (It was a weighted lottery based on standings over the three previous seasons.)

94. Jacques Plante won the Stanley Cup five consecutive years from 1956-60 and his name was spelled differently every time on the Cup.

95. Larry Robinson set a club record for most points in a season by a Canadiens defenceman with 85 (19-66) in 1976-77.

96. The Royal Canadian Mint is releasing over 10 million one-dollar coins commemorating the Canadiens' 100th anniversary. (Collect them all!)

98. When the Edmonton Oilers broke the record for the longest undefeated streak to start a season in 1984-85, they surpassed the 1943-44 Canadiens start of 11-0-4.

99. A movie is slated for release on the storied hockey club's 100th birthday next year. "Pour toujours, les Canadiens" (The Canadiens Forever) has begun filming in earnest and will include members of the Canadiens past and present. (Ernest will not be in the movie!)

100. Canadiens coach Toe Blake was fined a then astronomical $2,000 for punching referee Dalton McArthur during the 1961 playoffs. (Blake walked the width of the ice to smack him. It was game three of the semi final, and the Canadiens had just lost 2-1 in overtime, in what many have called the dirtiest game ever played. Montreal evened the series at 2 games with a 5-2 win on Chicago ice two nights later. Hawks goalie Glenn Hall then shut the door for a pair of 3-0 blanking. Blackhawks haven't won a Cup since.)

We'll that's all folks. Maybe Sportsnet will get all these right in time.

3 comments:

Name the Vancouver lawyer, born 1946, who referreed 15 minutes of a peewee game in Welland, Ontario with Rocket Richard, the year after Rocket's retirement? Answer: Craig Paterson, who also once talked with Toe Blake in the famous parking lot beside the Forum, who had considerable accumulated cigar ashes on his abdominally chasllenged black vest at the time: the same lawyer who also was illegally seated rinkside at a Habs game, by a former Montreal police sergeant and ex-McGill Redmen kicker, named George Springate. Cheers

Best Habs Sites

Welcome To Eyes On The Prize

I'm Robert L, and I hope that you enjoy the time you spend on my site. This blog has grown at a good clip over the past two plus years - I believe there are now close to 1000 postings here at this moment. If you are looking for older pieces, it helps to enter your query in the search bar at the top of the site or search the monthly archives. If there is something you are seeking, and can't find it, drop me a line, and I'll do my best to help you out. That also goes for any questions about the Montreal Canadiens, past, present, and future. Thank you for stopping by.

Gainey Foundation

For one last time with fire in your eyes you take the puck at centre ice driving hard with your legs you skate straight ahead as swiftly as you can but as you cross the enemy's blue line suddenly you no longer see the goalie the net disappears the boards open wide, a welcome gate to freedom and you escape the arena to the rivers of your youth and for hours, until the crowd is gone only night and silence remain the puck on your palette you skate forever without end on the endless ice of our memory until we all fade away and you breathe the pure air the absolute joy of skating alone eyes in the heavens without rumour, or goal free of all that hinders you.

Rogatien Vachon

The Best Goalie Not In The Hall Of Fame

A Case Of 24

Just one more before I die!

1993 Stanley Cup Champions

Roy's heroics, 10 straight OT wins, Eric Desjardins hat trick, and McSorley's illegal curve. A Cup win for the ages! It took an NHL record 10 overtime wins but the Montreal Canadiens prevailed winning their 24th Stanley Cup. This win gave the city of Montreal a Stanley Cup in every decade going back to the late 19th Century when the Cup was first awarded. Goaltender Patrick Roy became the fifth player in NHL history to capture the Conn Smythe Trophy twice, also having won it in 1986. He played very well, losing but four games over four series. After defeating Quebec, Buffalo, and the New York Islanders, Montreal came up against Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings. Hockey was hitting a feverish pitch in the west and Gretzky, as in the past, was the playoff scoring leader. Los Angeles opened the series with a 4-1 win at the Montreal Forum. But the Canadiens bounced back winning three straight overtime games and then taking home the Stanley Cup with a 4-1 win of their own at home. This would be the last Stanley Cup appearance for Wayne Gretzky.

1986 Stanley Cup Champions

In the first all-Canadian final since 1967, the Montreal Canadiens won their 23rd Stanley Cup, an NHL record. Rookie goaltender Patrick Roy was sensational posting a 1.92 goals-against average in 20 games. He became the youngest winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy at the tender age of 20. Roy's playoff run made a name for himself and reminded fans of former Montreal goaltender Ken Dryden who also won the Cup as a rookie, back in 1971. The Habs' offensive sparkplug was Swedish-winger Mats Naslund, who recorded seven points in the final. Calgary would revenge this Cup defeat four years later, defeating the Habs in the rematch.

1979 Stanley Cup Champions

Yet another Montreal Canadiens dynasty was capped off with this, their fourth straight Stanley Cup victory. What was more remarkable, perhaps, was that this was the second time Montreal had won four straight dating back to 1960 when they won five straight. This was the Canadiens' sixth cup of the decade. Bob Gainey won the Conn Smythe Trophy, scoring 16 points in 6 games. Ken Dryden, Yvan Cournoyer, and Jaques Lemaire retired after the season, having combined for an amazing 24 Cup rings. This would also be coach Scotty Bowman's last year behind the Canadiens bench having coached his fifth Stanley Cup title.

1978 Stanley Cup Champions

Finishing only one win shy of another 60-win regular season, Montreal only needed nine games to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Montreal's hard-line defenseman and Conn Smythe-winner Larry Robinson tied Guy Lafleur for the overall points lead in the playoffs. Vezina-winner Ken Dryden was stellar in the finals, surrendering a league-low 1.89 goals-against average. Montreal defeated Boston four games to two and won their third straight Stanley Cup. The silverware spree continued at season's end. Lafleur claimed the Hart, Art Ross and Pearson awards, captain Bob Gainey won the first-ever Selke, and Dryden, as mentioned, won the Vezina, sharing the honour with Michel Larocque.

1977 Stanley Cup Champions

Montreal proved to be unstoppable in their quest for a second straight Stanley Cup. They won a record 60 games in the regular season, including an incredible 33-1 home record! The playoffs were no different. Montreal rolled over the Bruins in the finals, taking the Cup in a four-game sweep. Guy Lafleur led the playoff-scoring race tallying 26 points in 14 games. Come season end he was awarded the Conn Smythe, Hart, Art Ross and Pearson trophies. Defenseman Larry Robinson won the Norris Trophy, Ken Dryden and Michel Larocque shared the Vezina and coach Scotty Bowman won his first Jack Adams Award.

1976 Stanley Cup Champions

For the third year in a row, the Philadelphia Flyers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Unlike the previous two years, however, Philadelphia came up against a much stronger team. The Montreal Canadiens had won a regular season record 58 games and cruised past Chicago and the New York Islanders, losing only one game in the process. The Flyers could not defeat the powerhouse Canadiens and were swept in four games. Montreal's Guy Lafleur led all skaters with seven points in the final series. One bright spot for Philadelphia was Reggie Leach who scored a record 19 post-season goals and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy. "This is not only a victory for the Canadiens; it is a victory for hockey. I hope that this era of intimidation and violence that is hurting our national sport is coming to an end. Young people have seen that a team can play electrifying, fascinating hockey while still behaving like gentlemen." - Serge Savard

1973 Stanley Cup Champions

In what was a rematch of the 1971 Stanley Cup Finals, the Montreal Canadiens met the Chicago Black Hawks. The series pitted the league's top two netminders, Ken Dryden of Montreal and Tony Esposito of Chicago. However this series was far from a defensive battle. In fact, in four of the six games, the teams combined for ten or more goals. Montreal prevailed winning the Cup in Chicago. This would be Henri Richard's 11th Cup win, a record, and coach Scotty Bowman's first. Yvan Cournoyer scored 15 goals to capture the Conn Smythe Trophy.

1971 Stanley Cup Champions

After missing the playoffs for the first time since 1948, the Montreal Canadiens entered the 1970-71 season on a mission. They did not disappoint. The Habs were able to defeat the Chicago Black Hawks in a thrilling seven-game final. Henri Richard was the hero of game seven, scoring two goals in Montreal's come-from-behind 3-2 win. Rookie netminder Ken Dryden stole the playoff limelight by posting a 3.00 goals-against average in 20 playoff games. Dryden was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in the process. Montreal collected their 16th Stanley Cup win, and said goodbye to captain Jean Beliveau, who retired at the conclusion of the season.

1969 Stanley Cup Champions

Montreal coach Claude Ruel became the 11th coach in NHL history to win a Cup in his rookie season. The Canadiens lost only two playoff games en route to defeating the St. Louis Blues in the finals for the second straight season. Montreal goaltender Rogie Vachon held St. Louis at bay, allowing only three goals in the four games. The Habs Serge Savard became the first defenseman to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP with a strong two-way performance.

1968 Stanley Cup Champions

This was the first season for the NHL's six new teams. Expansion introduced a longer regular season and playoff schedule. The Montreal Canadiens, after losing in 1967 to Toronto, were able to sweep the first expansion team to reach the finals, the St. Louis Blues. The Canadiens lost only one game in the playoffs, and handed the Blues a ticket back to St. Louis with a 3-2 win in Montreal in game four. This would be the eighth and last Stanley Cup for legendary coach Hector "Toe" Blake. The Conn Smythe Trophy was awarded to a player on the losing team for the second time in history. St. Louis goaltender Glenn Hall captured the prize, playing in 18 games and posting a 2.43 goals-against average.

1966 Stanley Cup Champions

The Montreal Canadiens, fresh off a Stanley Cup celebration, went into the 1965-66 season with a strong team and desire to repeat, and finished the season in first place. They met the Toronto Maple Leafs in the semi-finals, and made short work of the Leafs, eliminating them in four straight games. Meanwhile, Detroit and Chicago met to decide who would challenge Montreal for the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings won the series four games to two, to enter the fray for the Stanley Cup. Detroit won the first two games of the final, with Roger Crozier at his acrobatic best in goal. But Montreal persevered to win the next four straight, and took the series four games to two to win their second straight Stanley Cup. Henri Richard scored the overtime Cup-winning goal in game six. Although his team lost the final, Detroit goaltender Roger Crozier posted a 2.17 goals-against average in 12 games and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.

1965 Stanley Cup Champions

First place Detroit was challenged by the Chicago Black Hawks in one semi-final series, while the two Canadian teams, Montreal and Toronto, battled in the other. It took seven games, but the Black Hawks eliminated the Red Wings, and the Habs pushed the Leafs aside four games to two, ending Toronto's three-year Cup run. Montreal's Gump Worsley played in his first Stanley Cup final after 12 seasons in the NHL. The Canadiens won the series against Chicago four games to three, but three of those four victories came by shutout. Charlie Hodge recorded one shutout, while the veteran Worsley played four games, recording two shutouts, most notably shutting out Chicago in game seven to lift Montreal to the Stanley Cup title. Captain Jean Beliveau won the first-ever Conn Smythe Trophy for Most Valuable Player in the playoffs, scoring 16 points in 13 games.

1960 Stanley Cup Champions

On April 14, 1960, the Montreal Canadiens set a record that still stands. They won their fifth straight Stanley Cup championship. Montreal did not lose a single game in the playoffs. This season featured Jacques Plante donning a mask for the first time in the playoffs. He was able to hold Toronto to just five goals in four games, including a 4-0 shutout in game four, the Stanley Cup winner. Maurice "Rocket" Richard played in the final four games of his marvellous career, scoring the 34th goal of his playoff career during these finals.

1959 Stanley Cup Champions

Breaking the previous record of three consecutive Stanley Cup wins, the Montreal Canadiens won their fourth Cup with a four to one series win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto, undefeated in playoff overtime games that season, was unable to beat the star-laden Canadiens. For the first time in his brilliant career, Maurice Richard was held pointless in the post-season. Unfortunately, the Rocket's injuries limited him to only four out of the 11 games Montreal played. The Habs' Bernie Geoffrion and Ralph Backstrom paced all scorers with seven points apiece in the Final series.

1958 Stanley Cup Champions

For a second consecutive year, the Montreal Canadiens met the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup final. Boston was coming off a high scoring series in which they defeated the New York Rangers, outscoring them 28 to 16. Maurice Richard led the playoffs in scoring with 11 goals. It took Montreal six games to defeat the Bruins, completing the series win with a 5-3 victory at the Boston Garden. This third straight Stanley Cup win equalled the previous record set by Toronto, who won Stanley Cups in 1947, 1948 and 1949.

1957 Stanley Cup Champions

Many did not expect Boston to defeat Detroit in the semi-finals. They did, however, and were matched up against the Montreal Canadiens in a battle for the Stanley Cup. Montreal, coming off a 4-1 series win against New York, defeated the Bruins by the same series score. Maurice Richard scored four goals in game four, tying Ted Lindsay's record for most goals in a Stanley Cup game. The Canadiens won their second straight Stanley Cup as netminder Jacques Plante allowed but five goals in five games in the finals.

1956 Stanley Cup Champions

With a 4-1 series win over Detroit in 1956, Montreal started a consecutive championship streak that would reach five?a record to this day. Rookie coach Toe Blake replaced Dick Irvin, and Henri Richard, brother of Maurice, started his playing career. Henri would go on to win an unprecedented 11 Stanley Cup rings. Jean Beliveau scored seven goals to set the all time record for goals in the finals, including one in each game. Montreal won the Stanley Cup at home with a 3-1 triumph in game five.

1953 Stanley Cup Champions

Montreal netminder Gerry McNeil replaced Jacques Plante after the first two games of the final between the Canadiens and Boston. Plante had won the first game of the series, but lost the second. McNeil won three straight to help Montreal win the Stanley Cup. And he did it in all-star fashion as well, earning two shutouts and a 7-3 win in game four. Maurice Richard led the Habs offensively with four goals in the final. This was Montreal's first Stanley Cup win in seven years. This Cup win was incidentally the first for Plante and Doug Harvey, as well as the last for veteran Elmer Lach.

1946 Stanley Cup Champions

World War II had come to a conclusion, and the influx of 40 NHL players returning from military service changed the complexion of the National Hockey League considerably. The Montreal Canadiens finished first for a third straight season, and were going to face the third place Black Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. The other round found Boston being challenged by the fourth place Red Wings. Montreal blanked the Black Hawks in four games to progress to the final, while Boston eliminated Detroit four games to one to earn entrance to the championship series. Montreal and the Bruins battled hard, with three of the games needing overtime to decide a winner. But when all was said and done, the Canadiens were presented with the Stanley Cup for a sixth time. Elmer Lach and Maurice Richard, the former accounting for a series-high seven points, led Montreal in the finals.

1944 Stanley Cup Champions

First place Montreal was facing the third place Leafs in round one, while second place Detroit was challenged by Boston, the fourth place finishers during the regular season. The Leafs were using Paul Bibeault in goal. Bibeault had been borrowed from the Canadiens partway through the season to replace Turk Broda. Maurice Richard scored five goals in the second game of the series. In game five, the Canadiens trounced Toronto 11-0 to win the series four games to one. In the other series, the Black Hawks knocked Detroit out of playoff competition, four games to one as well. That set the showdown for a Canadiens-Chicago final. But Montreal wasn't to be denied. They won the Stanley Cup in four straight games to win their first championship since 1930-31. The Canadiens' potent Punch Line of Toe Blake, Maurice Richard and Elmer Lach led the charge, accounting for 10 of Montreal's 15 goals in the final series.

1931 Stanley Cup Champions

After winning their respective divisions, the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins met in a best of five series to decide who would advance to the Stanley Cup final. It took all five games, but the Canadiens won the series, winning each of their three games in overtime. Elsewhere, the New York Rangers beat the Maroons of Montreal in a two game total goal series, while Chicago earned a victory over the Maple Leafs with an overtime goal in the second of their two games. Facing the Rangers in the semi-final, Chicago shut out New York in both games of their two game total goal series to win entrance to the Stanley Cup final. Game one between the Canadiens and Black Hawks was won by Montreal in overtime. The second game of the best of five series went to Chicago?again, in overtime. Game three also went into overtime, with Chicago emerging with the victory. Montreal fought back and won the next two contests (in regulation time) to earn the Stanley Cup. It was the second straight Cup celebration for the Canadiens.

1930 Stanley Cup Champions

The Montreal Maroons were the class of the Canadian Division, finishing first. In the American Division, Boston catapulted by the competition finishing with 77 points?30 more than the second place Chicago Black Hawks. The two division winners met in the semi-final to decide which team would win a berth in the Stanley Cup final. Boston prevailed with a three game to one victory in the best of five series. In the quarterfinals, the Montreal Canadiens outscored Chicago, while the Rangers outscored Ottawa. The semi-final, therefore, saw New York pitted against the Canadiens. In a best of three series, Montreal won two games to advance to the Cup final against Boston. The Bruins, defending the Stanley Cup, were confident that they could defeat the Canadiens in the best of three series, but were astonished when Montreal blanked them 3-0 in game one with George Hainsworth posting the shutout. The Habs again surprised the Bruins, defeating them by a 4-3 score to win the Stanley Cup. It was the only time all season that the Boston Bruins would lose two games in a row.

1924 Stanley Cup Champions

In order to claim the Stanley Cup, the Montreal Canadiens needed to defeat both the WCHL Champion Vancouver Maroons and the PCHA Champion Calgary Tigers. Billy Boucher scored three of the Canadiens' five goals, including both game winners, to eliminate Vancouver. And versus Calgary, Montreal's 21-year-old rookie Howie Morenz registered a hat-trick in games one and two as the Habs completed the sweep. Game two of the final series was played in Ottawa to take advantage of the artificial ice surface.

1916 Stanley Cup Champions

In 1916, the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey Association won their first of 24 Stanley Cups. The Canadiens, winners of the NHA, faced the Rosebuds from Portland in a best of five competition. For the first time, a best of five Stanley Cup championship went the distance. After the Rosebuds won game one, 2-0, Montreal captured games two and three to gain the advantage. Portland came back to even the series in game four to set up the deciding fifth game. In the final match, the Canadiens bounced back from an early 1-0 deficit to score two unanswered goals, with seldom-used Goldie Prodgers netting the Cup winner.

Won the Hart Trophy (1964), the Vezina six times (1956 through 1960 & 1962) and was elected to six NHL All-Star teams. Popularized the goalie mask. Member of the Hall of Fame.

Won the Norris Throphy for four consecutive years and was elected to ten NHl All-Star teams. A 6 time Stanley Cup winner. Member of the Hall of Fame.

Won the Norris Throphy for four consecutive years and was elected to ten NHl All-Star teams. A 6 time Stanley Cup winner. Member of the Hall of Fame.

Won the Calder Trophy (1952), the Art Ross (1955, 1961), the Hart Memorial (1961). Passed away the day his sweater was retired. Member of Hall of Fame.

Hockey's first superstar. Won the Hart Trophy three times (1928, 1931, and 1932), was the scoring leader twice (1928 & 1931) and was elected to three NHL All-Star teams. Died following an injury sustained during a game. Member of Hall of Fame.

Won the Hart Trophy (1947) and was elected to 14 NHl All-Star teams. First player to score 50 goals. Best Goal scorer in Canadiens history (544). Known to cause riots. Member of Hall of Fame.

Won Hart Trophy (1977 and 1978) the Art Ross (1976, 1977, 1978), the Conn Smythe (1977) and was elected to five NHL All-Star teams. Scored 50 or more goals during six consecutive seasons. Member of the Hall of Fame.

Won Art Ross Trophy (1958, 1959) and was elected to three NHL All-Star teams. Won Stanley Cup 6 times. Member of the Hall of Fame

Won Conn Smythe (1973). Won Stanley Cup 10 times. Member of the Hall of Fame.

Elected four NHL All-Star teams, Winner of the Bill Masterton Trophy (1974). Won Stanley Cup 11 times, NHL record. Member of Hall of Fame